Alan Partridge prepares to push out his political views… again

Written by David Singleton on 4 August 2017 in Culture

Culture

Throughout his broadcasting career, Partidge has struggled to hide his support for the Tories.

In the aftermath of the 1992 general election, Alan Partridge claimed to be reluctant to disclose his political leanings on his radio show, saying it would be "inappropriate". But a quarter of a century later, he is showing no such shyness.

The spoof presenter will be returning to the BBC next year as "the voice of Brexit", creator Steve Coogan has revealed.

According to Coogan, Partridge will enjoy a career revival as he would have been staunch supporter of last year’s campaign to leave the EU – and of the subsequent drive for a hard Brexit.

Explaining why the BBC would take Partridge back, Coogan told the New European: "It’s conceivable, because in this age of Brexit, they might think they need to get in touch with the ‘Little Englanders’ they ignore.

"Alan would have voted Brexit for sure. Hard Brexit, given the choice. He’s a Brexiteer because the Daily Mail told him to be."

Coogan is aiming to have the newPartridge series written by the end of the year with a view to it launching on BBC2 next spring.

Throughout his broadcasting career, Partidge has attempted to remain impartial but has often struggled to hide his support for the Conservatives.

Shortly after the 1992 general election, the junior minister for housing and Tory MP for Norwich Sandra Peaks revealed that Partridge had helped her campaign. "Thank you for your sterling work in the election with the loudhailer," she told the presenter live on air.

Partridge replied: "I don’t want to disclose my political affiliations here, I think that would be inappropriate. But suffice to say that on April 10 we all breathed a sigh of relief."

He then praised Peaks for "getting rid of those gipsies" during her time as leader of Norwich Council.

Two years later, Partridge again revealed his political leanings when he hosted the ‘Partridge Over Britain’ debate - and was unable to hide his admiration for Adrian Finch, the Conservative candidate in the West Chalfont by-election.